Click on headline for story with photo(s)By Chris Wells, LWC Sports Information Director
The honor is the fifth for Oliver, who just completed his eighth season in 2017 at Lindsey Wilson. He is one of four coaches across all levels of collegiate football to repeat as region coach of the year in their respective region.
Oliver led the Blue Raiders to an 11-1 record this season, matching the program record -- set last season -- for most wins in a single season. The Blue Raiders reached their fourth straight NAIA Football Championship Series, falling in the national quarterfinals to No. 5 Southern Oregon.

In his eight seasons, Oliver has compiled a 63-29 overall record, including a 40-9 mark over the last four seasons.

This season, Lindsey Wilson won the program's second divisional title with a 6-0 mark in the Mid-South Conference Bluegrass Division. The Blue Raiders completed the program's first perfect regular season (10-0) and won their opening round game of the FCS over No. 9 Southeastern (Fla.).

Lindsey Wilson entered the postseason ranked No. 4 in the final regular season NAIA Football Coaches' Top-25 Poll.

Twenty-seven coaches were recognized over the five divisions -- Football Bowl Subdivision, Football Championship Subdivision, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA. Ties were not broken

The AFCAis scheduled to announce the 2017 National Coaches of the Year winners in each division at the American Football Coaches Awards, presented by Amway, broadcast live on the USA TODAY Sports Facebook page on Tuesday, January 9, at 7 p.m. CT. The Regional winners in each division are finalists for the National Coach of the Year.

This story was posted on 2017-12-06 05:32:55

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LWC Football Coach Oliver is AFCA Region 1 Coach of the Year

2017-12-06 - Blue Raider Stadium, 928 Russell Road, Columbia, KY - Photo by Chris Well, LWC.. Lindsey Wilson head football coach Chris Oliver has been named the 2017 American Football Coaches' Association NAIA Region 1 Coach of the Year, the organization announced on Tuesday, December 4, 2017. The honor is the fifth for Oliver, who just completed his eighth season in 2017 at Lindsey Wilson. He is one of four coaches across all levels of collegiate football to repeat as region coach of the year in their respective region. - CHRIS WELLS, LWC Sports Information Director.Read More... | Comments? | Click here to share, print, or bookmark this photo.